Bright Field
Finback Brewery - Glendale

 

 

a simple but flavorful kolsch, one of the more crushable beers finback had working when we visited them, almost a keller type, not that its cloudy, but its less than perfectly clear and bright like i know the style to often aim for. i like it having a little more residual substance to it though, and it doesnt seem less refined than it should at all. short white head on it from the tap, and an aroma of a more robust dry hopping than i am used to in one of these, but still rightly noble and grassy, maybe a little citra or something new school in there too, but it checks the traditionally hoppy box as well. lighter medium body, a definite german pils base to it and a lager yeast that has some character, although maybe not as explicitly kolsch tasting as some. that said, it comes together well, crackery and a little doughy, with soft lemon lime at the end, a cold conditioned crispness and brisk character, and finally a fast dry finish. overall a nice drinker, a good break between the hoppy stuff, and something that would be great ice cold from the pint can in high summer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A: The beer is hazy yellow in color and has a light amount of visible carbonation. It poured with a quarter finger high bright white head that quickly died down, leaving a large patch of bubbles on the surface and a narrow collar around the edge of the glass.
S: Moderate aromas of biscuit malts are present in the nose along with notes of green grapes and hints of bready malts.
T: The taste follows the smell and is rather malty, with lots of flavors of biscuit malts and notes of green grapes with some hints of chalk.
M: It feels a bit more than light-bodied on the palate and has a moderate amount of carbonation.
O: This Kölsch seems to be a little maltier compared to other beers in the style. The bits of chalky flavors were also unusual.

Serving type: can

 

 

 

From a single 16oz can dated 5/10/18. This is my first Finback beer. I’ve basically been waiting for them to do something in this category (not very hoppy) since that’s the style I’m drinking these days. The first thing I noticed was its extremely low carbonation. I can’t really remember the last time that I experienced such low-carbonation in a canned beer. The second characteristic that really stood out was a kind of cloying “strawberry” flavor. Kolsch beers are supposed to be “fruity” in a lager-y way, but this is not like that at all. Finally there is bitterness on the back end…which is right for a Kolsch beer. The label says (in tiny print) Kolsch-style ale dry-hopped with Blanc. I guess that means Hallertau Blanc. Well… anyway, I drank the whole thing, so I guess it couldn’t have been that bad. On the other hand, my overall impression was of a kind of strawberry-daquiri beer, which I agree doesn’t sound exactly great. In short, I would gladly drink another (it went down easy enough)…but at $4.50 a can, I won’t be searching this one out.

16 oz. can

Pours hazy cloudy gold with a creamy white foam head. Smells like apples, pear, woody spice, grapes, lemon peel, orange citrus pith, white grapefruit, caramelized crackery malts, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Tastes like grapes, apples, pear, woody spice, lemon peel, orange citrus pith, white grapefruit, caramelized crackery malt, with floral earthy herbal grassy pine. Feels medium bodied, creamy and smooth with moderate carbonation. Overall a nice kolsch style ale dry hopped with Blanc.